Steam Machine: Everything We Know

Second time’s the charm, or at least that’s the hope with Valve’s second try at a gaming PC. It didn’t quite work out over 12 years ago when Valve tried to introduce the first Steam Machine gaming PC into the console market. Yet, Valve never gave up hope, continuing to work on the Linux-based SteamOS software that gave birth to the successful gaming handheld Steam Deck in 2022. 

And now, SteamOS has seemingly been successful enough to greenlight the newly announced Steam Machine launching early next year. This new gaming PC could potentially rival PlayStation and Xbox’s mark on the next-gen console gaming world. 

Even though it’s still early to determine how mainstream the Steam Machine is going to be, it’s definitely a step in the right direction for gaming PCs that easily adapt to your every need, whether playing PC games on your computer or television. Below, you’ll find our compilation of just about everything you need to know about the upcoming Steam Machine. 

What is Steam Machine?

Steam Machine is an upcoming small form factor gaming computer by Valve with a 6-core Zen 4 CPU and an AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units and 8GB GDDR5 memory. It runs on the Linux-based Steam OS software, which allows it to perform like a normal PC. But you can also use it as a home gaming console, plugging it into your television like you would the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.

Its use is therefore perfect for gamers looking to play Steam games on the big screen. Essentially, all of your PC games in your Steam library can be played on your TV via the Steam Machine. But there’s more.

Unlike the Steam Deck handheld gaming device (functioning like the Nintendo Switch), the Steam Machine claims to have over six times the Steam Deck’s power.

To use the Steam Machine, all you’d need to do is sign in to your Steam account. And voila, all of your Steam games will be ready to play.

Features

Delving deeper, the Steam Machine will run on the SteamOS. This is an operating system that Valve has optimized for gaming. It powers the Steam Deck, and will also power the Steam Frame, which is the VR headset Valve plans to launch alongside the Steam Machine. With the SteamOS, you can run PC games at fast speeds, alongside cloud saving.

Regarding how the Steam Machine looks, it comes in a small size that can easily fit under your TV or on top of your PC desk. Despite its approximately 6-inch cube size, it packs enough power to run as a gaming PC.

Valve claims that the Steam Machine runs quietly, even when playing demanding games. Plus, it keeps its cool.

Ports

As for connecting it to several monitors and peripherals, the Steam Machine has you well covered, providing 1Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, one USB-C, and four USB-A ports.

Performance

You’ll also be impressed by the performance, which will run at 4K resolution and 60 FPS rates, albeit with upscaling (which PlayStation 5 also uses).

Storage

Meanwhile, you’ll have two options for storage: 512GB or 2TB. You can also increase the storage via microSD cards.

Connectivity

Furthermore, the Steam Machine will have internet connectivity as well as Bluetooth. For the internet, it’ll come with 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and Bluetooth 5.3. The latter will enable direct connection to your wireless Steam Controller, where an enhanced version will also launch alongside the Steam Machine. 

Battery

And you won’t need a battery, as the Steam Machine will have its own built-in power supply.

LED Strip

Lastly, Valve has added an aesthetically pleasing LED Strip to the Steam Machine, which, beyond looking pretty, will also show download progress, even when your screen is turned off. And you can always customize the LED strip with your own choice of colors and animations.

Gaming Console and PC

Steam Machine’s greatest selling point is that, beyond functioning like a gaming console for accessing games on your TV, it remains a computer. This means you can install your own applications as much as you would on your PC. And even install another operating system like Windows.

Steam Controller

You’ll be free to connect a maximum of four Steam controllers to your Steam Machine. But your controller won’t just let you play Steam games on PC but also on a laptop (including Windows, macOS, and Linux), Steam Deck, Steam Frame, and more.

The Steam Controller features include plug and play, as well as Bluetooth or USB, magnetic thumbsticks, immersive, accurate haptics, grip-enabled gyro, and all standard inputs for all hand sizes.

Steam Frame

Steam Frame will launch alongside the launch of the Steam Machine. This is a wireless VR headset that functions as a streaming device, too, for your Steam library collection. Since it runs on SteamOS, you can use it as a PC, too, installing apps, opening browsers, and more.

The Steam Ecosystem

With SteamOS running all of these devices: Steam Machine, Steam Deck, and Steam Frame, you have to wonder about the “ecosystem benefits” of having them all. 

Streaming

Well, for one, your Steam Machine can be a streaming device connected to your Steam Deck, Steam Frame, or any other device running Steam or Steam Link. It means that all SteamOS devices are connected, and you can stream and play games across them all.

Since Valve has been open to installing SteamOS in other unsupported hardware, like handhelds like Legion Go and ROG Ally, it creates wild possibilities for what the future of PC gaming could be.

Trailer

Do check out the official hardware announcement trailer for the Steam Machine, if at all you’re curious about how it looks and the specific functionalities it’ll launch with. 

Price & Release Date

It’s unclear how much the Steam Machine will cost, with experts speculating a $499 to $799 range, depending on tariffs, component pricing, and more. It might even hit $1,000 for high-end models with more storage. 

Steam Machine is coming in early 2026, with no exact release date announced as of yet.

Verdict

Valve’s second-shot Steam Machine is a compact 6-inch powerhouse: Zen 4 6-core CPU, RDNA 3 GPU, 8GB GDDR5 over six times Steam Deck’s grunt, hitting 4K/60 with upscaling. Running SteamOS, it’s a true console-PC hybrid: instant big-screen Steam library access, full desktop flexibility, and seamless streaming to Deck or the upcoming Steam Frame VR headset. Quiet, cool, loaded with ports, expandable storage, and glowing LED flair. Expected $499–$799 in early 2026, it’s the living-room PC gaming dream Valve abandoned in 2013 finally realized.